The young man waited for no further development. Supposing very naturally, what was the case, that he had been discovered, and that this party were sent in pursuit of him, he immediately turned away from the window and plunged into the pathway leading up the hill towards Mr Ashleigh's residence. No action, under the circumstances, could have shown the quick perception and ready decision of his mind to more advantage than his at once taking to this pathway; for, after he was once seen by his pursuers, his concealing himself amongst the few trees and scattered clumps of bushes along the hill-side would have been no safeguard under the almost daylight brightness of the clear moonlight. Such a course would have given to his pursuers only a limited space of ground to search over at their leisure, with the absolute certainty of discovering his place of concealment and making him prisoner. His taking the plain pathway to the hill-top made his escape depend upon his fleetness of foot, but only for a short distance; the hill once surmounted, a dense forest spread for miles along the route which he had to pursue. He had no uneasiness or doubt in trusting to his speed; for, inured by daily exercise, he had long been considered the boldest leaper and fleetest runner in all the country side. STORY TWO, CHAPTER TWO. THE PURSUIT. *Hahn*. My lord, he has escaped. *Otto*. Have thou no fear; he shall be prisoner. I know the bird, his ways, where he frequents; And I shall lime a twig, upon the which I'll easily entice him to alight.--_Oldenheim_. The noise of the footsteps passing out of the door brought from the cellar a tall and slender elderly man, with black eyes, and dark hair thickly interspersed with grey. This individual seemed to be in a state of much excitement. "What is the matter, Captain Vance?" he asked. "What has happened?" "Nothing of much importance," answered the dark man with the black slouched hat, who was again leaning, as when first seen by John Alvan Coe, against the door, which opened upon the sands. "I caught sight of a man looking in upon us just now through the back window." "Do you consider that fact as of not much importance?" said the elderly man from the cellar. "If you were in my position, I think that you would entertain a different opinion." "Oh!" exclaimed the captain in a careless manner, "he was only `A chiel amang us takin' notes.' I am very sure that he will never `prent 'em.' I shall take especial pains that he shall never have a chance of doing so." "The men who went out just now then," remarked the elderly man, in an interrogative manner, "were sent to catch him?" "Yes," was the laconic reply. "God grant that they may catch him!" exclaimed the grey-headed man, in an earnest tone.